Keeping warm on Halloween night and not ruining the costume?

[AnnetteF]

DD is 3 and this is the first year she has very definite ideas about what she wants to be for Halloween. She has decided she wants to be a mermaid. My only concern is that we live in Connecticut and it could be very cold on Halloween night. We only take her to about 20 houses in the neighborhood, but if it's cold... I have found a mermaid costume that has long sleeves so I can put something underneath it, but I'm just wondering what everyone else does when your DD's want to be princesses or mermaids or fairies or anything that requires a lighter weight costume?

 

[Tiffer]

We live in NY and she will freeze her little buns off!

I have always banned bare midrifts, for several reasons, but it just seems impossible to keep your child warm in a costume like that.

If she absolutely HAS to wear it, I woudl suggest Flesh toned body suit and leggings.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I make sure their costumes are big enough to layer a little. If it's cold I'll make them wear long underwear underneath. If it's really cold you can have her wear her winter coat and just take it off when she goes to a door.

 

[MushyMushy]

Long johns.

Also the winter coat idea. I always made my kids wear their winter coats. They grumbled, but at least they weren't shivering their little hineys off like the other kids were.

 

[mickeyboat]

We always used to put a sweatsuit under their costumes. We put a black one under a ladybug costume and a white one under a princess costume. There have still been years they have had to wear their coats over ther costumes, too!

Denae

 

[SleepyMom]

Layers! Lots of layers under the costume and a coat over if it is needed. Tan gloves and a headband to cover her ears.

 

[elgerber]

We are in Minnesota, so I know plenty about this LOL. We have always layered. For the girls, tights and then long underwear and then a turtleneck and possibly loose leggings or sweats if they fit under. We have never worn a coat over the costume. They do get cold sometimes, but unless they are in danger of frostbite, we just adjust our times accordingly. I have always figured they are so proud of their costumes, one night of being really cold is ok.

 

[golfgal]

If you can find some Under Armor or similar brand it is very thin and very warm so it would be great for wearing under costumes. It is basically
neoprene or polyester long underwear. It comes in different 'weights' of warmth. Our kids were it running in the fall when the temps are cold.

 

[poohluvrs]

2 words - nude leotard

 

[AnnetteF]

Thanks for the quick replies! I did find a mermaid costume that has a full top with long sleeves and I'm going to buy it a little bigger to allow for some layering. The coat idea is great, too, although at 3 she can can be a little difficult when she doesn't want to put something on. I forsee arguments at someone's door!

I was hoping tha0t she would forget about it but she saw a mermaid costume about a month ago when all those halloween catalogs started arriving in the mail and she hasn't forgotten about it. I like those polar fleece costumes from Old Navy. They have a cute pink poodle this year that I tried to talk her into but she wants no part of it. Last year she was a lion and looked so adorable - of course it wound up being about 65 degrees on Halloween night and she was sweltering, so I guess you can 't win either way. But now that her costume is lighter weight, I know it will be 20 degrees!

 

[CEDmom]

I've had luck find long underwear in the color of the costume at either Target or horror of horrors Walmart (the things I'll do for that child ). I've also gotten plain colored tops at Old Navy that have worked. Usually the legs are ok with thick tights underneath.

 

[golfgal]

One thing to keep in mind too is that most kids are generally warmer then most adults so while you may be cold, they might be hot. THe excitement of the evening also keeps them warmer.

 

[freckles and boo]

If it just you and her, how about taking a fleece throw or hooded poncho and just wrapping it around her shoulders as you walk? Easy on, easy off. That would be tougher for me with two kids, but it might work for one.

 

[kdibattista]

I would also get some of those packets of hand warmers they can use in between houses.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Peppermint Shnapps in the hot chocolate!

Oh wait you said kids... No hot chocolate.

Mikeeee

 

[Marion]

We're in the Canadian prairies and Halloween night often is snowy. For school aged kiddos we generally have 2 costumes, one for indoor classroom parties and the other designed to fit over a full snowsuit if necessary. My all time favourite costume (I'm not particularly handy with the sewing crafts) was a wizard costume. I took an old black pullover hoodie of my husbands and stitched yellow moons and stars to it. It fit over top of anything! All my kids wore that one several times from age 3 til about 10. My daughter was a princess once... I think she wore an elastic waist skirt and a crown.

 

[Stitchfans]

Layers! Lots of layers under the costume and a coat over if it is needed. Tan gloves and a headband to cover her ears.

This is what I was going to say.

 

[mommasita]

I agree with everyone...I buy the outfit MUCH bigger, add turtlenecks, bodysuits, sometimes snowpants under..
Heck, we live in the EXTREME NORTH

 

[My2Cinderellas]

Peppermint Shnapps in the hot chocolate!

My favorite is Godiva chocolate liquer and amaretto in the hot chocolate. tastes like a melted hershey bar with almonds!

If mama is warm, then the kids are too. right?

and yes, my girls have worn many a princess dress iwth a white tee shirt and a white turtleneck under it. and sometimes a coat over the top, but not fastened so the dress still shows.